Tag: Parkrun

I have posted before that I have enjoyed my local parkrun event, and that still remains the case. When I put down the goals at the start of the year, I wanted to run 5km’s under 24 mins by June 30 and under 23 mins by the end of the year. Thankfully I got to tick the first of these off the list, and will chase down the 2nd goal after a certain running event is out of the way, but more of that below.

Through parkrun, I saw a local running group called daily runner, run by husband and wife team Werner and Ash. I had a chat with Werner and felt I wouldn’t be too ostracised by my homage to Cliff Young running style. Just like the parkrun crew, and dare I say, even more so, the group is such a supportive group of people, where we are all at different levels of fitness, style and goals but everyone feels great by the encouragement.

As a side note, Werner and Ash were awesome sports when I got a challenge from my photo mentor course (which I am soon to finish after 6 months), to put a call out and produce quality shot(s) and hand them over to someone. I spoke with them and they were keen and were great during the session. I went out to QE2 and captured some background plates, and then super-imposed the studio shots of them in front of the backgrounds. The main shot is seen below. (mental note: Still owe A&W some more processed shots)

Werner showing his presence in front of QE2

A couple of people at the running group were running the Gold Coast marathon or the half, and my mind was ticking over, wow, this is something I would really like to tick off the uber list, but it is a far cry from where I am currently with my ability. After chatting with a few of the crew, I made my mind up, and immediately went for moral support with Gilly on whether he would join me. “Do you know how far a half marathon is?” then a no chance or words to that effect… Hmmm I can’t run on my own and need motivation…. Thankfully Daily Runner and mixed tapes / playlists got me through…

I also have an ex-brother-in-law who has done a half a dozen marathon and was very helpful in my weekly increase of distance advice, and the pace that I should be trying to run. I did start out hoping to just finish, which is still the #1 goal, and a pace of 7min/k. I have brought this down to 6min / k and I have a cheeky eye on beating 2 hours for the just over 21 km event.

I have done the preparation runs and feel confident I have put in the work for this one. Then along comes a head cold, that has been with me for 3 weeks now, but I am hopeful it peaked last Friday with it dropping to my chest. (I have had respiratory type stuff all my life, so this is usually a sign I am on the mend, fingers crossed.) All that is left now is making of the all important playlist, and as soon as I can prise a holidaying Tegan away from our mac that has all our music, I will get to it.

Mickey conjuring some magic for my race, and reminding me of fun times at Disneyland

Hopefully I will have good news that I finished, and just maybe, cracked the 2 hour mark. Wish me luck! My family doesn’t seem that keen on joining me, with a 3:00 get up and head off at 4:00 this Sunday.

I still don’t enjoy running, but I love the feeling I get when I stop! Thanks Eloise from the DR crew for that quote!

Song of the day is one the will definitely be on the the playlist: Jelly legs by Children collide, besides being a rockin’ good song, it is apt given how the legs will probably be feeling…

Well it has been a busy October and my musings here have suffered. It was a gentle prod from the one of the three people I know that read the blog, Bruce, that reminded me to check one of the posts I want to do off the to-do list and onto the interwebs. Thanks for the poke Bruce, you reminded me how fast time flies…

So my least favourite exercise would have to be running. Well even below least favourite, as I am so bad at it… My brother is tall, lean and was a gun runner through his youth. I look like a pint of Guinness, and run with less ability than said pint. So I have always had a nagging thought in my mind, why am I so bad at this, why can’t I learn to run a bit and do some fun runs, though I have done a couple including one I posted about a little over a year ago.

Well, one Friday evening as I was scanning through my email, I saw a note in our local councillors newsletter referencing Park Run, and it sounded like a great concept, and only a 15 min walk around the corner.

Ready for the start

The idea behind parkrun (read the link for the accurate description), is that it is a worldwide, weekly, timed, 5km run, free and run by volunteers. You register online, and get a bar code, which you scan at the end of the race, and your time is uploaded to their website.

Listening to the briefing session (Don’t know this person, though may have met on my 2nd?? run)

So fast forward 2 or so months, and I have 6 runs under my belt, and I have a lesser hate for running. Still a hate though… I started out wanted to be able to run 6 min k’s, and have been able to achieve that. I am a little competitive, so it is a great way for me to try and push to better my time, on the same circuit – something that I haven’t consistently achieved, which may have something to do with it being stage at 7 AM Saturday morning…

The organisers, Alan and Roisin have done such a superb job in bringing together the organisation required to run the event. Whilst I have only spoke with them a few times, they are very warm and welcoming people, and a tip of the hat to you both!

So much enthusiasm at the start

As the event for me is just around the corner, it has given me a chance to meet others who live on the area, in in one case, a couple of doors up, (Hey Paul if you ever find this). It does have a real communal feel about it, and I like it! I managed to get team Kelly to one event during school holidays, so the 4 of us register and set out on the day, though mother hen was more interested in walking the (not quite complete) course. As a side note, on this day I kept an eye out for the 3 of them, but couldn’t see Ryan at the turn around point, and I would later realise, that he was right on my shoulder.

Since starting, our friends, Team Gill, have been heading down with ever more frequency! It’s great to catch up with a chat prior, and make red faced, hand gestures after the run.

Josh coming in to the finish line, fresh as a daisy

Before my run last week, I commented to Sue that I have not done a run yet, that I whilst running, haven’t thought any / all of these:

I reckon I could stop about now;

why am I doing this; or

just walk for a bit…

She was a little surprised, but it is a fact, and one that (maybe) one day won’t be in my mind. I have heard about the “runner’s high” that some people experience, and if I am honest, I do feel particularly good walking down, prior to the start, 3 minutes into the run, 3 minutes after the run…

Nick left nothing out there!

Happy to say that I have run start to finish, every one, including the misinformed weet-bix before race incident, and the only thing getting me there was my playlist list dragging me along. I have a ritual to pick the songs, and the order of them being played, to get me through the euphoria of the start.

Whilst I will attend all the runs I can, this month is a particularly crazy one, but if the public transport gods align, I will attend the Melbourne run next weekend. This month has our gang (in no particular order), and only what comes to mind as I hastily write this:

Ryan’s award for academic excellence

Day on the green

Break up at school (3 people)

Nana (my mum) out of hospital

1st day of 1st Cricket test at the gabba

2 Radiohead concerts

Potted Potter play

Today’s song of the day is the first song from my current park run play list, Pnau – Embrace. This song gets me in the mood to think I can run 1 minute without stopping… I love Lady Hawke’s voice, and it is a great matchup with the Pnau boys! This is a definitely a cross over song for Sue and I. Not many are…